MOONBUG (Cimex Luna) A strange spiny glowing insect, so named because the glow of the creature is tied to the phases of the moon - instead of following its waxing and waning, the less bright the moon, the stronger the moonbug glows.

These nocturnal winged insects are commonly sighted in certain areas of the Metaforest. Moonbugs appear to glow faintly in the dark and are often mistaken to be a relative of the lampyridae (commonly known as fireflies). However, it is to be noted that unlike fireflies, moonbugs do not in fact produce their own light. Instead, the cluster of luminescent orbs at the tail of the insect absorb and store energy reflected from the moon. A thin reflective layer coats their wings and skin which operates as a defence mechanism used to cause momentary blindness when approached by potential predators, allowing the moonbug time to escape.

In addition to their appearance, the name is also thought to be derived from the moonbug's penchant for "moongazing". With the unique ability to rotate its head 360 degrees the moonbug will rest with its face turned towards the moon. Entomologists have not yet uncovered an explanation for this peculiar behaviour.

Moonbugs hibernate during winter under the barks of Scarletoaks and emerge during spring, typically within a week after the blooming of the flowers of the Nevernotwuz tree. Moonbug viewing during springtime is a popular activity among couples as well as tourists who stop by the town for the annual Bloemday festival.

(I used this drawing as an exercise to familiarize myself with Illustrator when I had a bit of spare time here and there. Im still figuring out exactly what the Stitchtown collab is all about (so much info!) but what really appealed to me was the idea of mixing real life and fiction and so here Ive taken that a bit further by trying to blur scientific data with the existing fiction...not that I know anything about insects!)